Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of GP practices offer the six to eight week postnatal assessment (a) face-to-face and (b) remotely.

The information requested is not held centrally.

Since the general practice contract Regulations were amended in 2020, there has been a contractual requirement for all women to be offered a maternal postnatal consultation, between six and eight weeks postnatally. As defined in the contract, this is a consultation with a general medical practitioner at which the physical and mental health and well-being of the women is reviewed. The consultation should be offered face to face, but where there are practical challenges for the mother in attending, such as having a baby in neonatal care, a virtual check can be carried out so long as appropriate follow-ups are in place.